Trenton, N.J. – Children, older adults, and those with lung or heart conditions should limit outdoor activity Wednesday as unhealthy ozone levels spread across New Jersey.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, a Code Orange Air Quality Alert is in effect Wednesday, June 4, for much of the state, including North Central, Central, and Southwestern counties. This means air pollution may pose health risks for sensitive groups due to elevated ground-level ozone.
Areas affected include Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Gloucester, Camden, and Northwestern Burlington counties. In places like Newark, Edison, Trenton, and Cherry Hill, residents may notice haze or breathing discomfort during afternoon and evening hours, when ozone concentrations peak.
Health officials urge at-risk individuals to avoid strenuous outdoor exercise, especially between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Keeping windows closed and using air purifiers indoors can also reduce exposure.
This is the first widespread Code Orange alert of the month and comes as summer ozone levels begin to climb. Similar conditions may return later this week if temperatures remain high.
Air quality advisories remain in effect until midnight Wednesday, with updates expected by early Thursday.
